Blog Calendar

Closet Organizing Systems Blog

The “His” and “Her” sections of a closet ( or His/His or Hers/Hers) come up frequently in a design consultation. Honestly, it's often a 2/3 Her and 1/3 His division.

But once you get past that, what about getting a handle on all the items you're hoping to store in this shared walk in closet?

Here are some ideas for creating harmonious space (and maybe even a better love connection).

If you're a husband and wife ensemble, you need to go through your “ensembles” together.

Your colorful fashion doesn't always allow enough space or access for his fundamental function. So, try on the clothing in question and get that second opinion. And be open. If your spouse hates the sorority/fraternity party shirt that looks like it came from the movie Flash Dance, you should toss it. Same goes for his version of that.

Here's the upside of going down that path. It facilitates communication between the two of you. You can be honest with each other and avoid future arguments as you're ready to walk out the door. It also might shed some new insights on what your partner thinks is “hot”. How cool could that be (or hot?)?

As for specifics, focus on one person at a time. Allow a certain number of veto votes for those items you just love so much you can't dream of parting with them.

Also, put some “storage structure” into the closet. If you have a column of shelves for shoes and it allows a total of 24 pair until it's maxed out, then you now have a set number of shoes that are allowed in the wardrobe. If you buy a new pair, an old one needs to go.

Also, if you have double hang rods, consider having the top rod be “his” and the bottom rod be “hers”. The taller the person, the easier it is for them to reach the upper rod.

And be respectful. Don't just throw things on the floor that your partner has to step over when they enter the space. Either install some hooks somewhere or make it a point to either put things back on the hanger, folded back on a shelf or tossed into the laundry bin. The floor is no longer a choice!

By incorporating these strategies and putting in a few hours of time, you'll not only save yourself a ton of time over the long haul, but you'll likely improve your relationship. Sounds like a win/win!

Comments

Many people wonder how to organize closets most effectively. The easiest way is with a custom closet system, but where do you begin? If you’re lucky enough to be putting in a custom closet system, here are the top five favorite “must have” features that you should definitely include:

Valet Rails
Most people aren’t sure what these are prior to having a custom closet system installed. But once you’ve experienced the convenience and functionality of a valet rail – you’ll never want to live life without one. These handy devices mount on the side of a vertical panel/section divider and they telescope in and out. So when you’re bringing home dry cleaning, packing for a trip or planning tomorrow’s outfit – you can easily pull the rail out to use – and push it back out of the way when you’re done.

Belt Racks

Having easy access to your belts makes it much more likely you’ll actually wear them – especially the really fashionable ones that you just “had to have”. Belt racks can be telescoping or wall mounted. Telescoping belt racks mount on the side of a vertical panel in a long or medium hang section so the belts have room to move when you slide them in and out for access. Wall mounted belt racks are great to use in spaces that aren’t functional for hanging or shelves.
Jewelry Dividers

Truly a thing to behold (in addition to being a thing that “holds” your favorite accessories), and often overlooked when thinking about how to organize closets. They can be velvet or acrylic. And they can be specific in their function (ring holders or small earring holders) or just have lots of organizational slots that allow you the flexibility to store small, medium or large pieces of bling.

Hooks

Who can live without hooks? They much better for a “quick drop” than the floor and they come in all shapes and sizes. They can really spruce up the look and feel of your closet space and are one of the most functional items on the planet when figuring out how to organize closets. Make sure you select ones that are larger in size so they’re easy to toss things onto and not have them still end up on the floor.

Baskets

How about two baskets – one for laundry – one for dry cleaning? No more stashing your “dry cleanables” behind the door and then trying to remember to drop them off. Baskets come in a variety of heights and finishes. They also can come with removable canvas inserts so you can easily gather and transport the contents. Now all that’s left is the “remembering” part!!

Comments

So what if you’re one of the people who haven’t yet achieved the nirvana of your own boutique size walk in closet?

How do you get all of your stuff inside and organized so you can find it when you need it?

Start with these tried and true organizing tips:

1) Start by taking everything out. Some items will go in the trash or Goodwill pile immediately. Trust me – you’ll find things you don’t even remember having, along with some that you’ve been looking for a very long time.

2) Evaluate with honesty and discipline. Look at each item and give it a rating

from 1-10. Ten means you love it and wear it often with confidence and joy. Anything below a 7 should no longer have a home in your closet. It’s not doing you any favors and not serving your current lifestyle and goals.

3) When you’re doing this evaluating – ask yourself how you want people to perceive you TODAY – in current time. Are you looking to get promoted? Are you looking for love? Pick three to five adjectives that you resonate with and make sure each item you keep honors and conveys these characteristics.

4) Put the pieces that have sentimental value in a box – and then store that box somewhere besides the main closet you use to get dressed.

5) Apply the 80-20 rule. We really do wear 20% of our clothing 80% of the time. If you have things you just can’t bear to let go of – move them to the back of another closet or storage space. If another 6 months or year goes by and you still have worn them – let them go without even re-evaluating. Trust that they have served their purpose.

6) Make another pile for anything that needs to be tailored, sewn or mended and write down what needs to be done to fix the piece. Then take them to the seamstress at the dry cleaners or your tailor – within 72 hours – and get the problems fixed so you can move forward and wear them with confidence.

7) Now start putting things back into your closet. The things you use the most should be the easiest to access. The goal is to be able to open (and close) the closet door – access what you need – and move on with your day.

Good luck and happy organizing!

And if you need to add some structure to your closet – set up an appointment with one of our fabulous design team members. They can double your storage capacity in no time flat and make your newly organized life so much easier to live.